Daily News

January 20, 2006

Dirt may be a key to how bacteria that infect humans develop a resistance to antibiotic drugs. In an article in the January 20 issue of the journal Science, McMaster University researchers say that study of bacteria found in dirt may be the key in identifying how and why antibiotic resistance happens in bacteria that infect people, predicting future clinical problems, and testing new antibiotics.

January 20, 2006

A team of MBA students from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University claimed top prize in the marketing case competition of the 2006 National MBA Games. Team members Anita Chetan, Andrew Forster, Marissa Hishon and Anita Misri were given the challenge of coming up with a marketing plan for a London, Ontario business. The business owner sells alternative transportation vehicles, such as the Segway Human Transporter, electronic scooters and trikes. "We had to figure out how to take this technology that has been widely accepted in the US and bring it into Ontario," said team captain Chetan.

January 19, 2006

When Tim Nolan started working at McMaster 17 years ago, McMaster's campus was far from accessible. In fact, he recalls a time when wheelchair signs were posted at delivery and garbage truck entrances. Since then, the campus has come a long way, says the new manager of disability services and university advisor on disability issues. "Now all doors have automatic door openers and there are elevators in all campus buildings," he says. "As well, most buildings have single use family-style washrooms," he cites as some of the obvious examples of how McMaster has responded to the needs of those with disabilities.

January 19, 2006

Standing atop the Royal Mile in Scotland's capital city, hagglers of an artistic sort gather year round from different corners of the globe to entice and cajole passersby. Every August, the celebrated Edinburgh Fringe (the world's largest arts festival) brings together an eclectic mix of acrobats, dancers, actors, artists and musicians alike. Together they take to the streets, pamphlets in hand, in hopes of securing an audience for their comedic, creative, theatrical, lyrical and musical exhibitions.

January 19, 2006

Close your eyes. Imagine a landscape like no other. Earthen red, strange and barren: a land foreign to most of us. There is beauty in its simplicity. Revel in its mystery. Spain. For McMaster professor, Graham Todd, this is his home away from home. He refers to his association with Spain, as slightly schizophrenic - the splitting of location and time with a continual shift - dividing his time as he does, between Olias Del Rey, near Toledo, and Toronto, maintaining a studio and an active presence as an artist in both.

January 18, 2006

Nearly half of American workers are victims of workplace aggression, with customers, clients or patients the most likely source of attacks, according to a new comprehensive national survey, co-authored by Aaron Schat, assistant professor at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. "The stereotypical belief that large numbers of employees are 'going postal' is a bit of a myth," says Schat. "Forty-seven million Americans experience psychological or physical aggression while on the job. Interestingly, workers pinpoint the general public as the most significant source of this aggression, as opposed to other co-workers or supervisors."

January 18, 2006

During this week's National Day of Action on Youth Voting, Jessica Martin, fourth-year multimedia and mass communications student, stood ready in the student centre to get the message out. As students across Canada encouraged their peers to vote in the upcoming federal election, Martin set up an information booth to promote greater participation from the McMaster community.

January 17, 2006

Until last summer, Harris Switzman, a second-year arts & science student, didn't have any research experience. But with the help of the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA), he got the opportunity to explore the world of academic research as well as engage with issues of crime and justice in the Hamilton area. Like Switzman, more than 120 other McMaster undergraduate students spent last summer studying issues from determining the effect of endurance training on cardiac output to analyzing electrophotonic materials to assessing the need for targeted funding and intergovernmental relations in health care.

January 17, 2006

The School of the Arts has announced its new lineup of uplifting concerts in the Celebrity Concert Series. The first performance this year features Valerie Tryon on January 27 in Convocation Hall. This internationally acclaimed pianist performed for the BBC in her native England before the age of 12, and has appeared on the concert stage all over the world, including The London Philharmonic and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

January 16, 2006

Thousands of students at McMaster will be eligible to vote in the Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale riding. The McMaster Students Union is helping to inform students about their voting choices by running the "Smart People Vote" Campaign on campus. This campaign is aimed at informing students about the federal election, how to register to vote and candidates' stances on issues important to post secondary students.

January 13, 2006

Two of three exhibits this month at the McMaster Museum of Art features the work of Latin America. Between History and Memory, running until February 26, highlights the work from McMaster's collection and private loans by twentieth century artists of Latin American origin.

January 12, 2006

This week, Depaul University, Lincoln Park associate professor Kenneth Saltman took up residence at McMaster's Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition, as the 2006 Fulbright-McMaster Visiting Research Chair in Globalization and Cultural Studies. Saltman is an accomplished young scholar compiling a most impressive record of scholarship which bridges cultural studies, communications and education. He is the author, co-author, or co-editor of five books examining the corporatization of schooling in the U.S. and several refereed journal articles. He has taught a wide variety of course on the sociology of education, philosophy of education, youth and middle school, culture and education and educational psychology.

January 12, 2006

If you have an abnormal heart rhythm, an implanted defibrillator can save your life, but the high voltage jolts can hurt. McMaster University researchers have found that using a combination of drugs can help stop the painful shocks for these patients.

January 11, 2006

Due to the outstanding generosity of McMaster students, employees and retirees, the $160,000 goal for the annual McMaster United Way campaign has been surpassed. "Every year the compassion of the McMaster community is reflected through tremendous support for the United Way campaign," says McMaster President, Peter George. "This year is no exception. You have once again made a significant contribution to the local community and those in need of counselling, shelter, food and other important services. Your kindness will touch the lives of those less fortunate and make a positive difference."

January 10, 2006

An information open house for the McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) was held today on campus. A second open house will take place tonight from 4:30 - 8 p.m. at Westdale High School's cafeteria. The open house showcased a draft master plan of the MIP, located on a 37-acre site on Longwood Road South purchased by the University in early 2005. The event is an opportunity to find out more about the Univeristy's vision for the MIP and a chance to provide comments and thoughts as the site plan is finalized.

January 10, 2006

McMaster is receiving almost $7.6 million from Ontario's Quality Improvement Fund to hire 38 new academic faculty and four part-time staff to improve student services. Funding is being used to purchase new library resources and to transform classrooms into smart, collaborative learning environments with flexible technology to provide access to different types of learning. The University is also creating additional teaching assistantships, thereby raising the number of small-group activities for undergraduate students.

January 10, 2006

Donald Trump brags that his television series The Apprentice brings out the best and brightest that business has to offer. But the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University may give "The Donald" a run for his money when students compete in their own version of the hit television show. And the stakes are just as high as on TV. For four consecutive weeks beginning Wednesday, Jan. 18, 10 students will vie for one of four summer internship positions with host companies, including Frito-Lay, Jan-Kelly Marketing, RBC and Xerox. Each week, two competing teams will be assigned a real-world challenge from a host company. They will have just one week to research, prepare and present a solution. At the end of the competition, four of the ten participating students will be offered summer jobs with the host companies.

January 9, 2006

This past summer, hip hop music flowed from Regent Park in Toronto while children aged eight to 12 learned how to read and write. The students were part of the Literacy Through Hip Hop initiative created by third-year McMaster health science student Jason Shrouder-Henry and his friend Shahmeer Ansari from the University of Toronto. In May 2005, Shrouder-Henry and Ansari approached TD Canada Trust with a proposal to improve literacy skills in children living in poor Toronto neighbourhoods. Using hip hop music as a source of inspiration, children learned to read and write about the issues, history and artists of the hip hop culture.

January 9, 2006

All members of the McMaster community are invited to participate in the Inclusive Community focus groups running this week on campus, and a session at the downtown centre. If you haven't already signed up, don't forget to register soon. This is a key opportunity to provide your input to the initiative designed to help "build an inclusive community with a shared purpose," as outlined in McMaster's strategic plan, Refining Directions.

January 7, 2006

An interim solution has been implemented to address MUGSI performance issues. In response to the problems students have experienced accessing MUGSI, a secure webpage, located at https://adweb.cis.mcmaster.ca/gt/menu, has been created to allow students an alternate access to grade reports and course timetables. MUGSI is up and running for the weekend and staff will monitor the situation. A longer term solution continues to be a priority.